Let's Have A Day Out - To Beaumaris

Travelling from mainland Gwynedd across to the island of Anglesey, it was initially only connected to the mainland by Thomas Telford’s Menai Suspension Bridge which leads in to the town of Menai. The original name for the town was Porthaethwy and it stands on the banks of the Menai Strait in South East Anglesey. The School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University is based in the town and their research vessel, The Prince Madog, is often docked on St George's Pier where steamships of tourists from Liverpool once docked. It was towards the end of the 1500s that the present town began to take shape as ferries across the Strait began and the town would slowly grow. By 1688 the Bangor Ferry House (later known as the Cambria Inn) was opened and this building still stands as the oldest building in the town. The construction of the suspension bridge between 1819 to 1826 brought about a boom in the town's history as Packet services between Liverpool and Porthaethwy were established and the population grew and businesses flourished. A promenade was built for the tourist trade and beaches were created on the banks of the Strait. During the war, Belgium refugees as a 'thank you' to the hospitality given to them, constructed Belgian Promenade to add to the tourist resort. A walk along here is recommended as it leads to Church Island. Although the church that presently stands on Church Island dates to the fifteenth century, it is highly likely that a smaller church stood on the same site for centuries before it.

The Belgian Promenade

Six miles from Menai is Beaumaris, originally a Viking settlement known as 'Porth y Wygyr', 'Port of the Vikings'. This is a captivating seaside town, with its mix of medieval, Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian architecture. Its name is based on the Norman 'beau marais', meaning 'beautiful marsh', a description of the site chosen by Edward 1 for the last of his 'Iron ring' of castles, constructed in his bid to control the Welsh. With his architect, James of St George, this was to be their crowning glory, the castle to end all castles. Constructed between 1295-1330 to form perfectly symmetrical concentric lines of fortification it is now a United Nations World Heritage site. It also has a water filled moat and a dock for access by supply ships. However a lack of money and with trouble brewing in Scotland meant building work had petered out by the 1320s. The south gatehouse and the six great towers in the inner ward never reached their intended height. The Llanfaes gate was barely started before being abandoned. So it tells of a dream that never quite came true and is now famous as 'the greatest castle never built'. Beaumaris was the port of registration for all vessels in North West Wales, covering every harbour on Anglesey and all the ports from Conwy to Pwllheli. Shipbuilding was a major industry in Beaumaris centred on Gallows Point, a nearby spit of land extending into the Menai Strait about a mile west of the town. Gallows Point had originally been called 'Osmund's Eyre' but was renamed when the town gallows was erected there – along with a 'Dead House' for the corpses of criminals dispatched in public executions. Later, hangings would be carried out at the town gaol with the bodies buried in a lime-pit within the curtilage of the gaol. Beaumaris has a lovely Victorian Pier, attracting children for 'crabbing' and offering boat trips with a stroll along the waters edge providing lovely views of the mainland and Puffin Island. Travel from here to Penmon Point overlooking Puffin Island where during the evenings when the sky is clear, the northern lights are visible. It is the perfect spot night and day for photography, trying to catch the dolphins. Another thing that makes Penmon Point special is at certain times of the year is has bio luminescent algae which is absolutely awesome as the water glows blue when disturbed.

 

Red Wharf Bay

Once an important port, Red Wharf bay is a large bay eight miles further up on the east coast of the island between the villages of Pentraeth and Benllech and is also close to Castell Mawr Rock, thought to be the site of an Iron Age fort. At low tide an extensive area of fine sand covering nearly 10 square miles is revealed. The bay is a designated nature reserve and attracts an abundance of birdlife. It is well known amongst twitchers with waders and waterfowl such as purple sandpipers, curlew, shelduck and dunlin being regulars. It is bordered by salt marshes and sand dunes which form a habitat for several interesting plant species, most notably the pyramidal orchid which favours the lime-rich dunes. Pentraeth Forest skirts the bay on its eastern edge and was, until recent re-introductions, the last refuge for Anglesey's red squirrels. The village, virtually on the waters edge, is a convenient places to grab a bite to eat or drink with three restaurants; The Ship Inn, The Tavern on the Bay and The Boathouse all with great views over the Bay.

A further two miles on up the coast we come to Benllech, a well established seaside resort and popular beach holiday destination. The gently shelving Benllech Beach is one of the most popular beaches on the island with fine golden sand and clear Blue Flag waters that are a delight for families to build sandcastles, paddle and swim. There are plenty of rock pools providing opportunities to see crabs, starfish and small fish up-close. At low tide the sand stretches for miles so there's plenty of space for activities including swimming, kayaking and canoeing, windsurfing, sailing and sea fishing. Backed by grassy cliffs, the beach has a promenade and the Isle of Anglesey Coast Path runs through Benllech village with panoramic views along the coast in both directions.

see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2022/08/lets-have-day-out-to-pwllheli.html